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Turkey parliament ratifies graft probe on ministers

Monday, May 5, 2014

The committee to look into claims against former ministers will consist of 16 lawmakers and issue a report at the end of a two-month investigation.

ANKARA – The Turkish parliament has voted to set up a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate four former ministers accused of corruption.

It comes nearly five months after the sons of three of the ministers were arrested on suspicion of corruption during a raid.

A total of 469 lawmakers cast their votes on a secret ballot on Monday’s voting, 453 of which were in favor, 9 against, 6 abstentions and one empty.

The committee to look into claims against the former ministers will consist of 16 lawmakers and issue a report at the end of a two-month investigation.

Former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Urbanization Minister Erdogan Bayraktar resigned from their posts after an anti-graft probe was launched on December 17 last year. EU minister Egemen Bagis was discharged in a cabinet reshuffle.

Caglayan, Bagis, and Guler on Monday addressed the general assembly in defense.

Refusing the claims, Guler said: "This investigation includes many illegal practices and abuse of power from the very beginning to the operation phase.”

Caglayan also denied corruption allegations and stressed his contributions as economy minister and MP, saying: “If these are a crime, I plead guilty.”